Weaver drafting a new strategy for Jaguars

GM Smith will have the final say; free-agent spending will be cut

The draft is in. Free agency is out. Drafting the best available player is in. Drafting for need is out. Stockpiling draft picks is in. Shedding draft picks is out.

That was part of the vision that Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver outlined for the future Wednesday, now that he's installed Gene Smith as the team's first general manager.

In overhauling the structure of the team, Weaver made it clear that Smith is in charge and has been groomed for the past several years for the position.

"For the last five years, it has been my intention that Gene Smith inherit this job as long as he continued to grow. I do think he would take our personnel department to a new level," Weaver said.

Weaver added that Smith is empowered to say no to Jack Del Rio if Smith and the Jaguars' coach disagree on a player.

"You better believe we had all those conversations. I don't have any doubt that Gene has that leadership skill," Weaver said.

When Weaver was asked if Del Rio, who was not at Wednesday's news conference, has any problems with the new structure, Weaver said, "Jack's fine with it, but Jack understood that in the past. Jack understood that James Harris had the final say in the past. James' style was different."

Harris resigned last month as vice president of player personnel. Harris' style, Weaver said, was to build a consensus, and if Harris couldn't build a consensus, to move on. Weaver made it clear he doesn't expect Smith to build a consensus. Weaver wants Smith to make the personnel decisions.

"I feel it was important to me to clarify that. Gene Smith has the final decision on personnel. Jack Del Rio has the final decision on football operations and football decisions, not on player personnel. If there is a disagreement, clearly, Gene Smith has the final call," Weaver said, adding that he gave Smith the general manager title because, "it was important [for him] to have the title and send the message that Gene Smith is in charge of personnel."

Weaver declined to blame Harris for the fact that the team drafted only one Pro Bowl player during his six-year tenure.

"I won't point the finger at anyone. Ultimately, it comes down to the guy sitting at this front table [Weaver]," Weaver said.

Weaver said the Jaguars will stop drafting for need, which was their style under both former coach Tom Coughlin, who was in charge of personnel, and Harris.

They'll go for the best player, regardless of position.

"I think it clearly is something that we've always espoused [drafting the best player over need] but haven't always done that. We need to get back to that," Weaver said.

He also said they Jaguars will stop spending big money in free agency after an offseason in which they didn't get much return for their big investments in defensive back Drayton Florence and wide receiver Jerry Porter.

He had a one word answer ("no") when asked if the Jaguars would spend big in the offseason.

Of their free-agency signings in the past, Weaver admitted, "We don't have a stellar batting average there."

He also suggested the Jaguars will hoard draft picks under Smith instead of trading them away to move up in the draft, the way the Jaguars did last year in the first two rounds to take defensive ends Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves.

"I think those are smart things to do [stockpiling picks]," Weaver said.

Weaver stressed the importance of improving team chemistry and indicated he wouldn't overrule a decision to cut Porter.

"There's no hesitation to move on, no matter what the financial implications are," Weaver said.

Weaver, who turned 74 Wednesday, said he has no plans to sell the team now, but he would eventually have to plan an exit strategy.

Freedom is not free, but it is worth fighting for. Thank a Veteran today.

1363 points

CPORetired

Thursday, January 15, 2009 @ 6:08 pm

At almost a Million dollars a catch, he sure didn't help the team. ($10M contract, 11 catches) and only 1 TD. In a team sport, you cannot blame only one aspect of teh team for a bad season, the blame lies on all 53 players, teh entire coaching staff, the front office, the training and medical staffs, and yes, the owner. The entire Jaguar organization will be back stronger next year, and with a whole lot of new coaches.

Its clear that the OL kept our recievers form even having a chance. Sure Drayton Florence sagged and didn't make a difference nut Porter is a true Pro who will make a statement on any healthy team.

Just because the guy hates the media doesn't mean that he should be the scapegoat here. Why did Reggie Williams fall from 12 TD's in 2007 to 3 in 2008? He should be the scapegoat here.

I like the moves the Jags made. Everyone knows that they made aggresive FA moves to win a SB. This past years team was virtually the same team as 2007. It was supposed to have improved the pass rush and establish a deep threat to make that Super Bowl push. Well, the OL failed and our DE's are oviusly poorly coached or lack NFL caliber talent. You make the call. But Jerry Porter is not why this team sucked.